On Monday, March 16th, Black women from all walks of life gathered at the LVMH Magic Room for a celebration of excellence and impact in different industries as Gyrl Wonder (GW), a non-profit organization founded by Tola Lawal, hosted their first-ever Women of Impact Gala. The black-tie affair, hosted by media entrepreneur and host of She’s So Lucky Les Alfred, was a representation of what happens when Black girls are given the resources to thrive in their respective spaces and a masterclass in Black Girl Magic.
Honorees included co-anchor of CBS Mornings Gayle King, makeup mogul Danessa Myricks, Olympian Jordan Chiles, Beauty Editor of The Cut, Asia Milia Ware, as well as several GW “gyrls,” who praised Gyrl Wonder for creating a place where Black girls and women could thrive in environments that oftentimes feel designed to work against us.
The night was full of all the recipients dropping pearls of wisdom and words of encouragement. Media tycoon and co-anchor of CBS Mornings Gayle King was the recipient of the Living Legacy Award. Ever the journalist, when King addressed the room, she told the crowd that she had interviewed girls at the event about the impact that the foundation had on their lives. She inspired all of them to keep going and never take no for an answer because, as she says, “No backwards is on, so game on.”
In an interview with GROWN, Ms. King said that her advice to Black women and people in the media is to “persevere.” She told us that the job that journalists do is “more important now than ever” so that perseverance is key.
Danessa Myricks, the recipient of the Renaissance Leadership Award, shared how she was bullied in school for her dark skin and acne. As she grew up, she sat in rooms watching beauty brands decide which shades made it to the shelves and which ones didn’t. Those experiences led her to build her makeup brand, Danessa Myricks Beauty. She made it clear that she wanted everyone to feel seen, beautiful and encouraged, and as she finished her speech, she said, “My deepest prayer is you find the courage to disappoint all the people who try and make you feel small.
Jordan Chiles and Asia Milia Ware, recipients of the Story In Motion and Cultural Vanguard Awards respectively, further praised the organization, with Chiles saying, “Sometimes the world takes a minute to catch up to the vision you have for yourself. Programs like Gyrl Wonder help shorten that distance.” Impacting an astounding 3,500 “gyrls,” the reach of the foundation itself cannot be overstated. In a room filled with mostly young and Black women, the room was buzzing with pride and excitement as women ranging from established media to young students connected on two things: their desire to take the world by storm and Gyrl Wonder’s ability to get them there.
Founded in 2015, Gyrl Wonder celebrates young Black girls and inspires them to be their most ambitious selves. The organization touts itself as a professional pipeline giving rise to ambitious women of color between the ages of 17 and 23. The success and appreciation of the work that Gyrl Wonder does was evident at the gala as founder Tola Lawal received a standing ovation when she received the Gyrl Power IRL Award. As she addressed the room, she told the crowd that she wanted to create a space for ambitious girls. She expressed that she became so overwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of funding and opportunities for Black-owned-and-led nonprofits that she was ready to close Gyrl Wonder for good. Instead, she opted to take a sabbatical and come back refreshed and renewed. When she did, the organization thrived, and 11 years later, Lawal was able to reap the fruits of her labor as she stood in front of an adoring room of Gyrl Wonder “gyrls” cheering for their founder.
“There’s honestly no way to describe that feeling without getting a little emotional,” Tola told GROWN. “There were real moments where I was tired. Not just physically, but mentally over it. Tired in a way that makes you question if the weight you’re carrying is even sustainable… to stand in that room, at our first-ever Women of Impact Gala, and see it full. To see people show up, believe in the mission, celebrate our ‘gyrls,’ invest in the vision, felt like confirmation. Like, okay… I was right to keep going. It felt like God saying, ‘I didn’t bring you this far to leave you.’”
As beautiful as the night itself was, the real beauty comes from the generational impact that Gyrl Wonder has. It doesn’t only give young Black girls a space to thrive and grow professionally; it allows girls to celebrate and pour into themselves holistically. What once felt like a perpetual source of exhaustion became a safe haven for ambitious girls everywhere, and while the gala was clearly a celebration for the ambitious girl, the foundation itself goes so much deeper than that. It’s a hug for the exhausted girl, a jumping-off point for the girl who’s early in her career, and a community for every single Black girl in between. That work all comes from Lawal’s decision to step back, reset and come back stronger.
“My advice?” Lawal says. “Protect your ambition, but also protect your peace. Don’t just chase opportunities, build ecosystems around you. Find your people. Pour into spaces that pour back into you. There’s a real truth that many of us do have to work harder, navigate more, and carry more, and it’s okay to acknowledge that without letting it define your limits. But what I always remind our ‘gyrls’ is this: yes, you may have to work twice as hard—but you are also twice as capable, twice as creative, and twice as resilient.
That’s why Gyrl Wonder exists. Because I didn’t want the next generation of Black girls to feel like they had to figure everything out by themselves. Community is strategy. Mentorship is strategy. Being in rooms where people see you, advocate for you, and open doors for you—that’s how you sustain yourself… Because the goal isn’t just to succeed, it’s to sustain your success. And I want every Black girl we touch to not only get to the room… but to feel like she belongs there, thrives there, and has the support to stay.”
